Unicorn Children’s Foundation is a 25-year old nonprofit organization that is creating cradle to career pathways for individuals with intellectual and developmental differences, as well as supporting their families. We envision a world where all children, regardless of their disabilities, will have every chance to be accepted, included, and provided with opportunities for meaningful engagement in their community. We are helping community members re-imagine how they can help people with unique abilities by advocating for inclusive opportunities and raising expectations of what is possible. With 1 of every 6 children being diagnosed, the challenges associated with raising a child with developmental differences will affect many of your friends, families, co-workers, and personal networks. To meet these increasing needs, we must expand our facility, increase staff, and invest in technology infrastructure to assure the needs are met for those who face economic, transportation, and geographic barriers to accessing critical programs.
Lisa was the mom of a 3-year old daughter who had been diagnosed with autism and two beautiful twin babies. After establishing a routine that met all their needs, she had to face a devastating life decision to relocate to another state, thus losing her natural and therapeutic supports. Fortunately, she called Unicorn Children’s Foundation to help her find the resources she needed for her family in a new community. While adjusting to her new normal, she feared that one of her twins was experiencing developmental delays. Unicorn Children’s Foundation was, once again, there to help Lisa and her family navigate the complex system of accessing care for her newly diagnosed son. Fast forward twelve years, her daughter had overcome many of her challenges and was preparing to enroll in an Honor’s College, but Lisa continued to have significant concerns about her Adam. He frequently ran away from his classroom at school and expressed his frustrations through frequent and physical assaults against teachers and staff. The team at Unicorn Children’s Foundation visited school after school to help find the best fit for Adam. Upon the realization that there was no “perfect” fit, Unicorn Children’s Foundation set out on a fundraising campaign to open the Unicorn Village Academy, a specialized high school that focuses on academics relevant to daily living, life-skills, vocational training, and community integration. Nationwide, 19.3 % of individuals with special needs will enroll in a post-secondary program or become employed. Since its launch in 2013, all graduates of Unicorn Village Academy have gone on to post-secondary programs or become employed. Adam needed an additional year of support through a pre-employment internship program following graduation which Unicorn Children’s Foundation was able to establish with a community partner. Adam is now one of those graduates who was hired at a local store and has even received his first pay raise following a performance review. For the first time in Lisa’s family’s life, the future is much brighter as she takes comfort in knowing that Adam has found meaning and purpose as an engaged member of the community and that he has built natural peer supports. Lisa’s story is one of many that we have heard. As a result of Lisa’s experience with Unicorn Children’s Foundation, they have become donors and supported our efforts with their time, talent, and treasure. You have helped us do all of this for Lisa’s family and numerous other families! Now we need your help more than ever to do more! Through your generous gift or bequest, you can guarantee the future of Unicorn Children’s Foundation and ensure that children with intellectual or developmental disabilities can live a life with dignity and purpose. Please speak to your advisors to review your giving options to ensure that you can positively impact many more families like Lisa’s in the future
WAYS TO INCLUDE AN ORGANIZATION IN YOUR WILL OR TRUST You can guarantee that your voice will carry on by naming The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. as a beneficiary of the following: Bequest through your will or trust to The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. ■ ■ ■
Specific dollar amount Specific percentage of your estate Specific percentage of your residuary estate (the amount or percentage that is left after all other bequests and expenses have been fulfilled)
The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. is a beneficiary of all or a portion of: ■ A life insurance policy ■ A financial institution (bank, CD, brokerage) account ■ A retirement account
Your attorney may wish to use the following language when making a bequest: “I give, devise, and bequeath The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit corporation, located at 99 SE Mizner Blvd., Suite 120, Boca Raton, FL 33432, the sum of $_______ (or describe the real or personal property or portion of the estate) to be used for general purposes.”
As with any decision involving your assets, we recommend that you seek the advice of your attorney when considering a planned gift. If you would like to discuss these options or make a planned gift to The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc., please contact Sharon Alexander via email: salexander@unicornchildrensfoundation.org or phone at (561) 620-9377.
Thank you again for your generosity and support of our mission, creating cradle to career pathways for kids and young adults with special needs and helping their families navigate this complex journey!
PLANNED GIVING OPTIONS Leaving a Legacy Legacy gifts through The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. give a donor the opportunity to make a larger charitable donation, while providing a stable funding source for The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. You have many options to choose from, some of which might enhance your immediate financial security and/or that of your loved ones.
You may want to consider the following: Bequests: A bequest is a gift a made through your will or trust that directs the estate’s personal representative or trustee to make a gift from your assets to The Unicorn Children’s Foundation after you die. Bequests may be used to provide gifts of money, stocks, real estate, or other property such as art or jewelry.
Endowment Legacies: Endowments are named gifts that are invested in perpetuity. The annual interest income from an endowment then supports specific programs and needs at The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. Endowments are established through outright gifts, a will, insurance or retirement policies, trusts and other planned gifts.
Charitable Remainder Trusts: Charitable remainder trusts allow you to transfer assets into an irrevocable trust that will provide you and or your beneficiaries with fixed percentage payments for life, or for a set period of time. Upon termination of the trust, the remaining assets are distributed to The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. to be used for the purpose specified by the donor.
Charitable Annuity Trust: With a charitable annuity trust, the donor transfers assets to The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. in exchange for a guaranteed, fixed annuity payment to them or another beneficiary for life. Upon the death of the donor, The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. receives the full amount of the initial gift to use as specified in the agreement.
Life Insurance: The gift of a life insurance policy can be a great way to combine charitable objectives with tax advantages to the donor. This is possible because donors may receive an income tax deduction by naming The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. as a partial beneficiary or owner of a life insurance policy.
Real Estate: Real Estate may be given outright, used to fund a charitable reminder trust, or given as a life estate (see below)
Life Estate Agreements: In a life estate agreement, the donor transfers the title of his or her real property to The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. In return, the donor reserves the right to use the property throughout the donor’s lifetime. Upon the death of the donor, the property becomes an asset of The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. By planning legacy gifts, you may be able to increase income from investment assets, while receiving the satisfaction of making a very meaningful gift to a cause you care about.
UNICORN LEGACY SOCIETY APPLICATION For record keeping and planning purposes we ask that members complete the information below and return it in the enclosed envelope. ❏ I/we would like to be recognized in the Unicorn Legacy Society. ❏ I/we would like to remain anonymous. ❏ I/we would like the gift to be unrestricted. ❏ I/we would like to designate the gift for_____________________________ Please indicate the type of gift: ❏ Codicil in will/trust ❏ Charitable annuity or trust ❏ IRA beneficiary designation ❏ Life Insurance ❏ Other___________________________ Name Address City
State
Zip
Signature Optional Information: Please indicate the approximate value: $_____________ or % of estate _____________ For questions or more information about planned giving at The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. please contact Sharon Alexander at: 561-620-9377, or by email: salexander@unicornchildrensfoundation.org.